Black Alliance For Just Immigration Says Immigration is Black Issue in Los Angeles
LEIMERT PARK, LOS ANGELES — Leaders from the Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI) and Latino advocacy groups gathered Tuesday at the Black Women for Wellness headquarters, to challenge prevailing narratives about immigration solely impacting the Latino community.
Hosted by the Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI), the press conference brought together representatives from organizations including the California Black Power Network and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA). The event sought to address what organizers described as growing apathy and skepticism among African Americans about immigration — particularly as the city undergoes increasing ICE raids around the county.
Read More: https://voiceofblackla.com/immigrant-advocacy-organizations-demand-kevin-de-leon-resign/
“Immigration is not just a blue-state issue or a Latino issue — it’s a Black issue too,” said BAJI Executive Director Nana Gyamfi. “One in every five Black people in Los Angeles is an immigrant. If we’re not telling that story, we’re erasing part of our own community.”
Kevin Cosney, associate director at the California Black Power Network, echoed that sentiment. He highlighted the contributions of Black immigrants to the civil rights and Black liberation movements, as well as to cultural pillars like hip-hop and jazz.
“We stand with our migrant family, not because they’re hard workers or taxpayers, we stand with them because they are neighbors, our friends, our family members and critical, beautiful threads that make up this beautiful tapestry of black LA and black California,” Cosney said.
“What is Hip-Hop without Kool Herc, Biggie Smalls and Nipsey Hussle? What’s our fight for freedom without Marcus Garvey and without Kwame Ture?”
The press conference emphasized the importance of solidarity between Black and Latino communities, particularly in a city like Los Angeles where racial identities often overlap and community interests intersect. Organizers stressed that building coalitions across race and immigration status is essential to combating systemic inequality and white supremacist ideology.
Still, the event didn’t shy away from hard conversations — particularly around anti-blackness and tensions within Black communities regarding immigration. The concerns about illegal immigration are real, particularly in neighborhoods that have historically been African American and are now predominately Latino.
“Do you want masked men hopping out of cars grabbing on you? Do you want to have no place for refuge?” BAJI’s Executive Director asked. “That is what we are experiencing now as Black migrants in this country.”
The event concluded with a call to action for Black and Latino communities to join forces and to get involved in civic engagement, with organizers vowing to continue building bridges that span race, status, and neighborhood lines in Los Angeles County.
Read More: https://baji.org/
